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It wouldn't take long IF you have an electrical box that can properly support the weight of a fan. This could be a modern box attached to a metal brace between two joists, or an old round box firmly attached around a gas pipe. if you have an unreinforced box, or no ceiling box at all, it's a much bigger job, complicated further by your tin ceiling.
 
I have a tin ceiling in my kitchen and a non-reinforced box that was put up when I had the house re-wired. The tin ceiling was installed afterwards. Since I didn't want to open up my tin ceiling, I bought the lighest weight fan I could find and hung it from the existing box. This is NOT really the right way to go about hanging a fan, but it's been hanging for over 20 years with no problem. I doubt that an electrician would do it that way, but DIY fan hanging isn't rocket science.

6:27 PM 04/24/2012 | 1 Votes

And, BTW, I cannot in good consence recommend hanging a fan the way I did.

6:29 PM 04/24/2012 | 0 Votes

Thanks so much for your informative answers. Clearly this is not something I can handle on my own. Does anyone know what it should cost per hour and, if done rightly, how much it should be?

7:18 PM 04/24/2012 | 0 Votes

This is not an electrical problem.  You need someone to take the time to carefully and properly install a new metal box that has special screw posts and built to hold extra weight.  The job involves solidly attaching the box to ceileing beams while taking care with the tin.  Other than the fact that a pair of wires comes into the box this is in no way an electrical matter.  Although you might technically need an electrician per NYC code, this is in the normal world a job for a handyman from your local hardware store.  That way you pay at most $75.  Hire an electirican and you will pay at minimum $200.

7:52 PM 04/24/2012 | 0 Votes

Thanks limestone!

8:24 AM 04/25/2012 | 0 Votes

I found a great electrician when I moved to the city by using QHelp. http//qhelp.me  It's a site that compiles individual personal contractor's reviews by the people that use them (kind of like a Yelp for individual workers) and it was SO HELPFUL!!! 

12:02 PM 04/25/2012 | 0 Votes

Thanks so much for your informative answers.[url= http://www.mbchief.com]Beats by Dr. Dre Solo[/url]Clearly this is not something I can handle on my own. 

11:47 PM 04/25/2012 | 0 Votes